Haslingden Runner Ivy Pilkington Qualifies for Lancashire U13 Cross Country Team
There is no stopping the remarkable progress of young athlete Ivy Pilkington, who has recently secured her place on the prestigious Lancashire U13 girls' cross country team. The 13-year-old Year 8 student at Haslingden High School has demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication, culminating in this significant achievement.
Record-Breaking Performance at Marl Pits
Last year, Ivy made headlines by smashing a long-standing record at the Rossendale School Sports Partnership (RSSP) Athletics Championships held at Marl Pits in Rawtenstall. She completed her 1,500m track run in an impressive five minutes and 25 seconds, breaking a record that had been set before she was even born. Reflecting on the moment, Ivy said, "I just did a bit of a sprint to the finish and I was not really aware of the time, so I was shocked when my PE teacher, Miss Berko, said I had beaten the record."
Her ambition continues to drive her forward, with Ivy setting new personal goals. "I now want to get sub two minutes and 35 seconds on my 800m. This season, I have been getting two minutes and 38 seconds, but I want to get as close as I can to two minutes and 30 seconds," she explained.
From School Playground to Competitive Running
Ivy's passion for running was sparked during her time at Helmshore Primary School, where she enjoyed playing tig at breaktime. "I did a cross country event with RSSP when I was in primary school, and I was 13th, and I enjoyed it, so I joined Ramsbottom Harriers, but they were not doing any training," she recalled. This led her to switch to Rossendale Harriers, who meet at Marl Pits in Rawtenstall, where she now trains rigorously on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, with races typically scheduled for weekends.
With the Harriers, Ivy's training regimen adapts to the seasons: she runs on tracks and roads during the darker nights and shifts to cross country and fell running in the summer months. Her hard work paid off in November when she won the RSSP Cross Country title for Year 8 and 9 girls, earning a spot in the Lancashire Schools Cross Country final at Witton Park in Blackburn, though an injury unfortunately prevented her from competing.
Upcoming Opportunities and Local Success
Ivy will have her first chance to represent the Lancashire U13 Cross Country Team at the Inter Country Championships in Nottingham this March. Additionally, she has been selected for the Rossendale Rising Stars Scheme, which grants her free gym, swim, and fitness membership at Rossendale Leisure Trust facilities, supporting her ongoing development.
Her success is part of a broader trend of excellence in Rossendale's running community. At the Lancashire Schools Cross Country event at Witton Park in Blackburn, four high school runners from the area placed among the top eight, securing their own spots to compete at the national level in March. In the Junior Boys category, Charlie Dobson finished second and Harry Hopkinson came fourth, while in the Inter Girls category, Ruby Cleaver was a close second by just two seconds and Alice Carr took fourth place.
This collective achievement highlights the strength of grassroots athletics in the region, with Ivy Pilkington leading the charge as a promising young talent to watch in the coming seasons.
